For Unimaginable Possibilities #LetUsPray

First, as the Spirit moves, I will be preaching this Easter at Burlingame Presbyterian Church, so if you are in the area, I would love to see you.

As I mentioned in my Palm Sunday post, during Holy Week last year, I was in Palestine — the most violent time of the year for Palestinian Christians. Easter was spent watching Palestinan Chrsitians being blocked from attending Easter services, watching a teenager be arrested for chanting, and witnessing a senior citizen being thrown over a barrier. This was on top of the constant presence of Israeli military and police, not there to de-escalate, but to provoke.

Here are a few images and a short video from that Easter morning in East Jerusalem just outside the gate of the Old City.

And as is the case in places of conflict and suffering, there was also great hope seen and experienced. We saw the power of communal organizing and resistance against authority, we witnessed the amazing Ritual of the Holy Fire, and we gathered with the local community to reaffirm our understanding that death and hate do not have the last word — life and life do.

Here are a few shots from Easter.

Holding this tension about the possibilities that are offered in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, I offer this Easter prayer.

For Unimaginable Possibilities #LetUsPray

Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Jesus, we say those words
but sometimes they are hard to believe

There is too much sorrow and suffering
in my body
in our communities
in our country
and in the world

And yet, amid our doubt and confusion
You return again and again and again
Reminding us that you are right here
To hear, to heal, and to love

And still, in a day of division and destruction
You are unimaginably generous with Your grace
Reminding us that evil, hatred, and death do not have the last word
but it is the promise of goodness, love, and life that rise above

So when our bodies and spirits are in pain
give us the courage to believe in the possibility of healing

When our communities are shouting and shattered
give us the humility to believe in the possibility of reconciliation

When our country is in turmoil and chaos
give us the wisdom to believe in the possibility of the common good

And when the world is at war
give us the audacity to believe in the possibility of peace

Jesus, we may not always be able to believe
But we know that when it is time
You will make Your promises known
And we will see You fully

For these things I pray

— AMEN

Peace,

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LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, April 5, 2026: Easter Sunday

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6 | Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 | Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43 | John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
NL439 Readings (CEB): John 20:1-18 | Psalm 118:21-29

In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher (NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.